Sri Lanka head coach Sanath Jayasuriya has urged his players to maintain consistency following their crushing defeat to Bangladesh in the second T20I of the ongoing home series. Despite winning the Test and ODI series convincingly, the hosts were left embarrassed in Dambulla, falling short by 83 runs while chasing a target of 178.
Jayasuriya, however, dismissed any notion of the team being under pressure. “Not pressure as such. We just need to play well,” he said. “We have won the Test and ODI series, and we need to finish the T20s well too. The players are eager to perform, and we are working hard.”
The 56-year-old placed particular emphasis on the top-order batting, stressing the need for a solid start. “We need the top three to bat well and bat long. The bowlers are experienced and know their roles. We have seasoned players, and once someone gets set, they need to carry on,” he explained.
While acknowledging the shortcomings in the second T20I, Jayasuriya remained composed and optimistic about bouncing back. “I don’t want to be under pressure all the time. It’s too much. No one does. But it’s a challenge – it’s part of cricket. We made mistakes in the last game, and we need to bounce back. It’s that simple.”
He also added that the team understands what went wrong. “The players know where we faltered. The cricket-loving public trusts us, and that’s key. Everyone knows what they need to do, and hopefully they’ll handle the pressure,” he said.
